16 September 2000 If you've ever wondered about the spelling of this band's name, allow me to flex my French in your direction. The language of Molière and Marcel Marceau doesn't have a hard 'j' sound, hence the difference between Jack and Jacques, so to a French speaker unfamiliar with the works of Austin Powers … Continue reading Modjo – ‘Lady (Hear Me Tonight)’ →

2 September 2000 The singer with an unremarkable late-'90s Britpop band; the guitarist with an un-glamorous '70s glam rock group; a sampled loop from an obscure '70s US disco-soul single; an unknown Italo-house DJ: these are the random and unpromising elements that combine to make 'Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)'. So, why does it feel … Continue reading Spiller – ‘Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)’ →

5 August 2000 I didn't pay much attention to 'Rock DJ' at the time, so I've only noticed now how similar it is to our previous Robbie Williams solo number one, 'Millennium'. Both use someone else's music, but recreated cheaply rather than a direct sample: here, it's a loop from 'It's Ecstasy When You Lay … Continue reading Robbie Williams – ‘Rock DJ’ →

22 July 2000 One thing that jumps out at me from 'The Real Slim Shady' is how defensive and chippy it is. How many other Slim Shadies were out there, exactly? If he's dissing other white rappers, does he mean Mark McCabe and our blessed 'Maniac 2000'? Confusingly, he then quotes approvingly the Discovery Channel … Continue reading Eminem – ‘The Real Slim Shady’ →

15 July 2000 Gregg Alexander's single transferable song evokes the early '00s as much as bootcut jeans and frosted tips. After his own 'You Get What You Give' in 1999 as the New Radicals, it pops up again (and again) in 'Inner Smile' by Texas, 'The Game Of Love' by Santana featuring Michelle Branch, 'Murder … Continue reading Ronan Keating – ‘Life Is A Rollercoaster’ →

10 June 2000 Not long before this, in 1998, we had a wave of Irish pop girls at number one: a group of them as B*Witched on the fantastic 'C'est La Vie' and a solo one in Kerri Ann on the alright 'Irreplaceable'. So, Samantha Mumba at number one in 2000 with her debut single … Continue reading Samantha Mumba – ‘Gotta Tell You’ →

13 May 2000 As I write this, today's schedule on the Discovery Channel consists mostly of Wheeler Dealers, Alaskan Bush People, and UFO Witness. But hey, whatever turns you on! The funky, radio-friendly goofiness of its zero-entendre chorus is what ensured global one-hit wonder status for 'The Bad Touch'. Its verses are just tiring, laboured, … Continue reading Bloodhound Gang – ‘The Bad Touch’ →

4 March 2000 Dare I suggest that, since it was recorded in Clontarf Cricket Club, 'Maniac 2000' is a West Brit? Best not. To be fair, cricket in Ireland is played and watched by plenty of solid Irish citizens. Also, 'Maniac 2000' had barely topped our charts before Ireland elevated it to the pantheon of … Continue reading Mark McCabe – ‘Maniac 2000’ →

26 February 2000 Our previous number one, Gabrielle's 'Rise', featured the sort of inspirational content now more associated with social media. We've seen a similar shift to Instagram with this number one's theme of literal travel as metaphorical journey of 'authentic' spiritual self-realisation. Alex Garland's The Beach, visualised by Danny Boyle's film adaptation, was a … Continue reading All Saints – ‘Pure Shores’ →

19 February 2000 If Bob Dylan's fans called him 'Judas' for playing an electric guitar, what must they call him for approving samples and interpolations of him in chart pop songs? I've never been a Dylan fan, I don't like the dirge of 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door' in any version, and I've never been partial … Continue reading Gabrielle – ‘Rise’ →